January 28 - March 28, 2008

Greetings from the “Island of Enchantment” as Puerto Rico is sometimes called. Since our last newsletter another man has been added to the Body. The gentleman, a construction worker, is a friend of Santos Torres, a deacon in our church. Through Santos’ testimony and invitations Facundo started to attend our church. One Wednesday after the Bible study he expressed his faith in the Lord. I had the privilege of baptizing him the following Sunday.

Our attendance has been great this past month and a half. Several times we have been over one-hundred and other Sundays in the nineties. Of all of the Christian Churches on the island, Aguadilla presently is the largest. And with the exception of some large churches in Haiti I think it is safe to say it is among the largest in the Caribbean. I must confess I write this with some reticence but I do want to try to place this work in some sort of regional perspective so you have a more pertinent framework when doing evaluations instead of the church where you attend or a mission in another part of the world.

We have scheduled rather tightly the church calendar this year. Ever other week or so there are special events going on in the church. For your convenience, I have made a list of events dating from the last newsletter up to this coming weekend:

1. Church building painted by the men
2. Children’s Sunday dedicated to and hosted by the children
3. Ordination of deacons
4. Valentines Day Sunday celebration
5. Choir practice begins in Feb. for an Easter Sunday concert
6. Women’s retreat
7. Acts of benevolence in the community
8. The annual kite festival
9. Good Friday special service (high priestly monologue)
10. Easter Sunrise service
11. Easter concert (choir presented a short concert)
12. A three day emphasis on prayer (March 29-31)

We have had more first time visitors than any other year since we have kept records. It seems each Sunday someone new appears. Some of those are coming back regularly. These are exciting and busy days at the church. At the end of most days I flop in bed and no sooner do I close my eyes than it is a new day.

Mary had a birthday the 25th of March, her sixtieth. We moved things up a little and surprised her with an unexpected visit from our son Benjamin and his wife Tiffany. Then we threw her a surprise birthday party with thirty-five friends and church members present for the unexpected celebration.

So goes life for the Reeces in Puerto Rico. Once again please accept our genuine thanks for your interest in this labor of love… our love for the Lord.


Cross-cultural ministers to Puerto Rico

Johnathan and Mary Reece